Acetylene-generator.



W. W. HARRIS. ACETYLENE GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1910.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 UNITED sTA'rEs raTENT OFFICE.

WILLIA M' W. HARRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN'OR TO VAN GLEGKLAND CO., INC.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACETYLENE-GENERATOR.

Application filed May 5, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene- Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to acetylene generators, and in certain features thereof particularly to. acetylene generators of the selfcontained type, that is, embodying a chamber having a yieldable gas-wall.

An object of this invention is to provide an acetylene generator, particularly of the yieldable gas-Wall type, which is capable of automatically generating gas at low pressures and maintaining a substantially constant pressure of the gas in the gas inclosure, thereby, insuring flames at the burners of practically constant intensity of illumination.

Another object of this invention is t pro-.

thus preventing overloading and consequent overheating of the apparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an acetylene generator which will automatically cease to operate or' make gas and be incapable of being again started in case a material leak occurs in the generating apparatus, or in a service pipe or other auxiliary part.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feed mechanism for an acetylene or like generator With 'a safety device which will automatically look when the pressure of the generated gas exceeds the normal predetermined pressure, thereby preventing any further feeding of carbid and consequent generation of gas until the safety device is manually released.

A further object of my invention is to provide a feed mechanism for an acetylene or like generator which will automaticallyv cease to operate if the carbid being fed is held in temporary suspension, as in the case of a floating island, or when an excess of carbid is fed into agiven quantity of water, thus preventing serious trouble in the Specification of Letters Patent.

v Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 559.561.

event of the user failing to renew the water supply when putting in a fresh charge of carbid.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a safety mechanism cooperating with the carbid feeding means which is adapted to automatically and positively cut ofl any further feeding of carbid whenever the normal predetermined pressure of generated gas is exceeded from any cause whatever and whether the generator is in its normal or in an abnormal position.

According to my invention, the acetylene generator is provided with a yieldable member the movement of which is controlled by the pressure of the generated gas, and a plunger actuated by said yieldable member, said plunger having one or more partitions forming a plurality of superposed pockets, said plunger extending through an orifice in the carbid reservoir, the dimensions of said partition or partitions being related to the dimensions of said orifice so as to provide an open clearance between the edges of said partition or partitions and the sides of the orifice to preclude the wedging of carbid therebetween, and at the'same time to prevent the flow of carbid when the said partitions are in register with the edgeof the feed orifice.

In the preferred form of- .my acteylene generator, a weight is centrally attached to a yielclable member, said weight and said yieldable member serving as a wall of the carbid reservoir, and the plunger is attached to said weight, said plunger being guided throughout its operation by the sides of the orifice.

By reason of the construction and arrangement of my invention. the feeding mechanism operates with a minimum friction between the working parts, and effects a feeding of carbid in proper amounts commen' surate with the quantity of gas consumed, at the same time maintaining a substantially even pressure of the gas.

Other objects and features of my invention will appear more fully from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of an actylene generator embodying my invention. the

lower portion of the water reservoir being omitted; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the gas restrictor taken on the section line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the safety mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the plunger or valve as seen at right angles to the section of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrow 4. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the assembled generator;

Fig. (3 is an enlarged sectional view of amodification of my plunger or valve and lower portion of the carbid reservoir; Fig. 7 is an elevation of the plunger or valve shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7, modified slightly as hereinafter noted; Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 8 of another modification, showing another form of vertical partitions.

Referring to Fig. 1, the water reservoir 1 is disposed below the carbid reservoir 2, the upper walls of the water receptacle being provided with a screw-thread and further adapted to form a seat 3 for the gasket, 19. The annular rin 4 is fiXed at its upper portion to'the lower portion of the carbid reservoir 2, the lower portion of the annular ring 4 being provided with a screw-thread cooperating with the screw-thread of the upper portion of the water reservoir 1. The gasket 19 effects a gas-tight joint between the water and carbid reservoirs. The main part of the carbid reservoir 2 is formed of a shell 5 of sheet metal having a coneshaped bottom; the upper portion of the carbid reservoir is rolled inwardly to form a bead 6, to which is secured the flexible part 7 of the yieldable wall forming the top wall of the carbid reservoir. The water reservoir is preferably made of metal, but may be .made of glass.

The flexible diaphragm is molded to have an inner central opening, the edge or rim about said opening being somewhat thicker than the intermediate part 7. The normal diameter of the inner opening is slightly sinaller than the diameter of the circumferential groove in the lower part of the central weight 9, in which groove the edge 3 is entered, so that when the edge is entered in said groove the rubber of said edge 8 is under tension. rim of said diaphragm is also thicker than the part 7, said outer edge being stretched in order to position the same over the upper part of the carbid receptacle 2. In the preferred forms of my construction said outer edge of part 7 is of sntlicient thickness to form a gasket about the edge or bead (i, the tension of the outer edge of part 7 being sufficient to form a gas tight joint when the same is positioned on the bead (3. The normal'shape of the part 7 intermediate the inner and outer edges of said diaphragm is of a curved contour. Thus throughout the. working limits of movement of the dia- The outer edge of the phragm and the weight, the part 7 is under proper tension to be highly responsive to varying changes in the volume of the generated gas.

The generated gas passes through the carbid feed opening into the. carbid reservoir, and thence through a 'filter cloth 13 surrounding the end of the pipe 15, passing through the pipe 15, thence through the flexible connection 16 to the burneror service pipe. The filter cloth 13 is retained in position by the retainer ring. 14, comprising an inner rubber sleeve and an outer metal sleeve the cloth being secured be.-' tween the same. The pipe 15 is held in position by a positioning sleeve 24 fixed to the upper portion of the carbid reservoir. The burner post 37 is seated on the shield 10 and projects through an opening in the cover 11. The upper part of thevburner post 37 is provided with a thread to receive a lock nut 38, to secure the cover 11 in position. The pin 31-is fixed to the post 37 and registers with an opening in the cover 11. The burner post 37, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with an upper extension 41 of less diameter and cut away at 42 on one side. The burner nipple 43 slides on said extension 41 and is provided at an upper portion on its inner side with a fiat projection 48 loosely fitting the cut away portion 42 of the extension 41, but sufficient to prevent the nipple from turning about the exl tension 41. The washer 40 is disposed at the top of the burner post 37. About the extension 41 is disposed a coiled-spring 46, its lower end abutting on the nipple 43, the upper end engaging the head of the screw 45 seated at the top of the extension 41. The spring 46 tends to keep the sliding nipple 43 seated against the washer 40. The burner column 44 is provided with an inner thread engaging with the thread of the burner nipple. The gas passage 39 in the burner post 37 passes upwardly to a certain height and then laterally to a port 47 disposed slightly above the washer 40. When the nipple 43 is seated on the washer 40 the nipple completely closes the port 47. By turning the burner pillar 44 to the right the sliding nipple 43 is raised, thereby opening the port 47, and at the same time'the tension of the spring 46 is exerted downward on the pillar and forms a gas-tight. joint with the washer 40. The gas flows out of the port and passes upwardly between the nipple and extension of the burner post.

My safety device. shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is preferably carried by the weight 9, and

comprises a base 17 having an upstanding .tion of the safety device.

The safety device further comprises a lever 21 pivoted to the part 18, the lower end of the lever 21 being provided with a recess for receiving the free end of the coil spring22, the fixed end of said spring 22 being secured to the base 17. The lever 21 is further provided with a lug 23 adapted to engage with the side of the opening in the shield 10, when the part 18 and weight 9 are moved up to the highest position. The base 17 is preferably secured to the plunger 25 by means of a screw seated in the plunger 25 and passing through a hole of larger diameter in the base 17, thus permitting the base 17 and part 18 to be turned with respect to the plunger 25.

The lever 21 is provided with a projection 57 at its lower end which in coiiperation with a slot or opening in the base 17 of suit.- able length acts as a limiting stop. When the safety-device has reached its highest position, that is, when the lug 23 has been brought into engagement with the side of the opening in the inner shield 10, it may be manually released by pressing the lever 21 which allows the weight and plunger to descend to the feeding position.

In the preferred forms of my invention the plunger 25 and weight 9 are secured together by castingthe weight about the upper end of the plunger, a portion of the latter extending above the weight. The plunger 25 extends through the orifice 26 in the carbid reservoir 2. The plunger 25 is provided with a plurality of pockets 27 disposed near its lower end. The partitions 28'between the pockets 27 are of such dimensions that there is an open clearance between the edges of said partitions and the sides of the orifice 26. The clearance prevents the wedging of carbid between the edges of the partitions and the sides of the feed orifice 26, but is not suificient to permit a How of carbid when the edges of the partitions are in horizontal alinement with the sides of the orifice. This arrangement secures a feeding of the carbid in substantially measured masses, and furthermore reduces to 'a minimum the friction between the moving parts of my feed mechanism and the carbid therebetween.

- I prefer to employ a valve seat 29 of yieldable material, such as rubber, which cooperates with the plunger in feeding carbid from the carbid reservoir. The valve seat 29 is retained in a screw cap 30, having a thread engaging a thread at the bottom of the carbid receptacle. I usually provide the screw cap 30 with a guard 31, for the purpose of preventing moisture which has condensed on the lower side of the carbid receptacle from flowing to the rubber valve seat 29. This screw cap 30 constitutes a closure for the carbid feeding opening in the hotopening. An extension 32 of the screw cap 30 is of greater diameter than the inside diameter of the mouth of the water reservoir 1, so that when the carbid receptacle 2 is in normal position on the water reservoirv 1 the extension 32 contacts with the water reservoir 1 before the screw cap 30 can become entirely unscrewed, and thus prevents accidental dropping of the closure in case the latter has not been properly screwed in place. This arrangement is provided to prevent the jarring loose of the closure of the filling opening and theconsequent precipitation of the entire char e of carbid into the Water reservoir in case t e closure is not entirely screwed in position.

The plunger 25 is of such dimensions above and below the pockets 27 that a 010- sure is secured when the plunger is in the extreme upper or in the extreme lower position. Usually the opening in the valve seat is circular and the plunger .rod is also circular. In Fig. 1, I have shown two series of superposed pockets 27 disposed on oppo site sides of the plunger, the remaining sides of the plunger 25 being of such dimensions that they serve to guide the plunger when it reciprocates through the feed orifice in the operation of discharging carbid from the carbid reservoir. I prefer to graduate the capacity of the pockets by making the lowermost pocket of each series the smallest and progressively increasing the capacities of the upper pockets. The rubber valve seat is not essential in the construction of my generators, since I may employ a metal valve seat, as will be explained more fully in connection with modifications of 'my feeding means described hereinafter.

, Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the carbid reservoir 2 is provided with a lowermost portion 50 having a thread adapted to engage a thread on a ring carrying the metal valve seat 51, said valve seat 51 being pro 'vided with a guard 52 similar to the guard 31 shown in Fig. 1. The plunger 25, as

shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, has four series of superposed pockets 53 of graduated capacity, the smallest being at the bottom and the largest at the top. The horizontal partitions- 54 between each of said pockets 53 are of such dimensions so as to provide an open clearance between the edges of the same and the sides of the valve seat 51. The vertical partitions 55 between the pockets have a rounded contour, as indicated in Fig. 7, but may be brought to a fairly sharp edge (as shown in Fig. 8) so as to minimize the friction between said vertical partitions 55 and the sides of the valve seat 51. In the normal operation of the feeding of carbid from lo l .tion of starting the carbid reservoir the plunger only rises to a position at or slightlybelow the lower edge of the lowermost pockets of each series. The open clearance 56 extending below the lowermost-pocket prevents the wedging of carbid between the plunger and the sides of the valve seat, and at the same time is not sufficient to permit the flow of carbid from the carbid receptacle. In practice the number of series of superposed pockets may be two, three, four, or more.

In Fig. 9 I show a plunger 25 having two seriesof superposed pockets 53 separated by horizontal partitions 54 of similar relation, as shown in Fig. 6, said two series being disposed on opposite sides of the plunger 25; in such case, the remaining sides of the plunger 25 of the portion thereof which in operation passes through the orifice in the carbid reservoir,'are cut away so as to pro-- vide a clearance and minimize the friction, the vertical guide portions being preferably brought to a fairly sharp edge. The construction shown in Fig. 9 is otherwise similar to the .construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The operation of my generator will be clear from the above description, taken 1n connection with the following explanation. When it is desired to charge the carbid reservoir, the carbid reservoir is unscrewed, thereby disengaging the carbid reservoir from the water reservoir, and then the valve seat is removed permitting the carbid charge to be placed therein. The proper amount of Water is then cha'rgedinto the water reservoir, and the apparatus is ready to be assembled for operation, when the valve seat has been replaced. When the carbid reservoir is inverted to receive its charge the weight and plungermove to the extreme position and are automatically held in the position by the safety device. The operathe generator is effected by manually releasing the weight andplunger to allow the same to descend to feeding position. The discharge of carbid from the car bid reservoir gives rise to the generation of gas which flows into the carbid reservoir and acts on the yieldable gas-wall, thereby raising the plunger to a shut-off position. As gas is consumed at the burner, the pressure of the gas contained in the carbid reservoir decreases slightly, causing the plunger to again descend to feeding position. This action is repeated automatically until the carbid supply is exhausted, or until the feeding means isma-nually locked in the extreme upper position. It will thus be seen throughout the operation of my generator the pressure of the. gas contained in the carbid reservoir is extremely low, and the amount of gas issmall. By virtue of the arrangement and construction of the feed controlling mechanism of my generator the flame at the burner is extinguished practically simultaneously with the manual moving of the weight and plunger to the highest orclosed position. It .will also be seen that in case of breakageof the generator parts or leakage, caused by accident or otherwise, the amount of gas contained within the generator is insufficient to cause an explosion or even give rise to a flame of any consequence.

By reason of my feeding means being guided solely by the sides of the orifice, and also by reason of the non-frictional construction of the pockets of my plunger my genera-tor operates at an extremely low and even pressure. The open clearance between the partitions separating the pockets of the feed plunger and the sides of the orifice in the carbid reservoir prevents wedging of the carbid and insures at all times a proper response in the movement of the feed plunger corresponding to slight variations in the pressure of the gas.

As far as I am aware- I am the first to produce a carbid feed generator of the selfcontained type, in which the gas is generated evenly and at practically the proper burning pressure, namely, about two and seventenths inches water column. In the preferred construction of 'my generator the pressure of the gas contained within the generator is slightly in excess of the burning pressure state-d. By employing my gas restrictor the flow of gas is controlled to'correspond to the requirement of the particular burner made use of. It will be seen that the pressure in my generator can be increased, if desired, for certain purposes other than illumination, by employing a heavier weight, my feeding mechanism being of such a nature that the increased pressure is maintained with practically the same slight variations between the maximum and minimum pressure as when operating at lower pressures with a. lighter weight.

It will be understood that the weight may be replaced in whole or in part by a spring,

the weight however being preferred.

By reason of the exceedingly low pressure at which my generator is capable of being operated and also by the fact that said low pressure is maintained with but a very slight variation and never exceeding a. predetermined 'point, substances of less tensile strength than metal, such as glass and the like may be used for certain parts of my generator, such as the water reservoir, thereby effecting economy in the cost of manufacture.

Certain of the features of construction described in this application are illustrated and set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 510,065, acetylene generators. filed July 28, 1909.

Having thus described my invention, I

declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent i s- 1. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a water reservoir, of a carbid reservoir having an orifice, means for feeding carbid from said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending through said orlfice and having a plurality of series of superposed pocketsseparated by horizontal par-.

reservoir having an orifice, means for feeding carbid from said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending through said orifice and having a plurality of series of superposed pockets separated by horizontal partitions, the dimensions of said partitions being related to. the dimensions of said orifice so as to provide an open clearance between the. edges of said partitions andthe sides of said orifice, and vertical guiding means carried by said feeding means and disposed between said series of pockets.

3. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a. water reservoir, of a carbid reservoir having an orifice, means for feeding carbid from'said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending through an orifice in said-carbid reservoir and having a plurality of series of superposed pockets, and vertical guiding partitions disposed between said series of pockets.

4. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a water reservoir, of a carbid reservoir having an orifice, means for feeding carbid from said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending throughacircular orifice in said carbid reservoir and having a plurality of series of superposed pockets, vertical partitions disposed between said series of pockets, said vertical partitions having an outer contour of a curved surface of less radius than the radius of said orifice and serving to guide said feeding means through said orifice.

5. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a water reservoir, of a carbid ing carbid from said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending through said orifice and having a plurality of series of superposed graduated pockets separated by horizontal partitions, the dimensions of said partitions being related to the dimensions of said orifice so as to provide an open clearance between the edges of said partitions and the sides of said orifice and vertical guiding partitions disposed between Said series of pockets.

6. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a water reservoir, of a carbid reservoir having an orifice, means for feeding carbid from said carbid reservoir, said feeding means extending through an orifice] in said carbid reservoir and having a plu-I rality of series of superposed graduated pockets, and vertical partitions disposed between said series of pockets.

7. In an acetylene generator, the combination of a water reservoir, a carbid receptacle having a cone-shaped bottom adapted to be received into the upper portion. of said water reservoir, said receptacle having a screwthreaded opening in the lower portion thereof, a screw cap fitting said opening, and means for preventing said screw cap from becoming entirely unscrewed when the carbid receptacle is assembled in normal relation with the water reservoir.

8.' An acetylene generator in which the generated gas is stored entirely within the same, comprising means for feeding carbid to generate gas at a normally low and substantially uniform pressure, said pressure being but slightly in excess of the required burning pressure. u

9. In a carbid feeding generator having a yieldable member controlled by the pressure of the generated gas. a safety device wholly 'carried by said yieldable member, said safety device cooperating with a fixed part of the generator to lock the feeding means in closed position when a predetermined pressure of the generated gas is reached and operative at all times, said safety device being directly operable manually to lock or unlock said feeding means.

10. An acetylene generator having a gas generating chamber, a carbid receptacle disposed above said chamber, said receptacle having a yieldable wall responsive to the expansion of the generated gas stored within the generator, means for restricting the. carbid delivered from said receptacle into said chamber in quantities commensurate with the output of gas to maintain substantially uniform pressure of the generated gas independent of an automatic pressure regulator, said means comprising a reciprocating plunger controlled by said yieldable wall, and said plunger having carbid carrying means positively restricting the amount of carbid delivered upon each reciprocation of the plunger.

11. In an acetylene generator, a carbid feeding mechanism comprising a feed valve and. a plunger having a pocket for carrying carbid, said plunger being provided immediately below said pocket with a lateral recess, to provide a clearance between said plunger and the sides of said valve for positions of said plunger proximate its unper closing position.

12. In an acetylene generator, a carbid feeding mechanism comprising a feed valve and a plunger having a series of superposed pockets for carrying the carbid, said plunger being provided immediatelybelow the lowermost pocket with a lateral recess; so as to provide a clearance between said'plunger and the sides of the feed valve for those 7 positions of the plunger proximate its upper closing position.

13. In an acetylene generator, a carbid feeding mechanism comprising a feed valve and a plunger having a plurality of series of superposed pockets for carrying the carbid, said plunger being provided immediately below the lowermost pocket of each series with a lateral recess so as to provide a clearance between said plunger and the.

sides of the feed valve for those positions of the plunger proximate its upper closing position.

14:. In carbid feed-mechunlsms, a feedplunger having its feed-portion constituted by circumferential grooves with an inclined top Wall or surface and intervening circumwall or surface and intervening circumfer-v ential ribs or projecting portions forming circumferential pockets for carrying the carbid, in combination with a valve ring having an orifice approximately conforming to the circumference of the plunger above and below its feed-portion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM W. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. LUoKE, Gno. N. KERR. 

